A Bolton father fought off a four-foot-long Great White shark before the predator sank its jaws into his hand and foot.

Chris Murra, 54, was attempting to complete a 20-mile open water swimming challenge in Los Angeles' Catalina Channel when his daughter's worst nightmare came true.

Before Chris departed for the trip, his 23-year-old daughter Eleanor had given him a card saying "don't get eaten by a shark", according to the BBC.

Swimming in pitch darkness, Chris couldn't see the shark but he could feel it. Setting off with a group in the early hours, he was powering through the water when he felt teeth on his hand.

The Great White tore a chunk of flesh from his hand in the initial attack, reports the Mirror.

The father said: "I remember shouting 'ow' because it hurt, and then I remember a bit of a wrestle with it and [the support crew] must have thought, oh, he's just having a bit of a moan about a jellyfish sting, or something."

Then the shark returned and clamped onto his foot. He said:"Then it was like a bit of a tug and the only thing I could think of was to kick it with my other foot".

Then the shark came back for another go. When the support vessel shone a light on the shark, Chris was horrified to see the creature returning.

Recalling the ship shining its light, he said: "That illuminated all of the water and then the shark was coming back for its dessert."

The solicitor recounted how he managed to fend off the creature before scrambling into the boat. However, the shark was not deterred and continued to circle him.

Chris SAID: "At that point one of the crew said 'come in number seven, out you get' and I had to climb up the ladder.

"I don't see it as being nearly killed. I just think it just had a bit of a nibble on my foot and my hand."

The incident on 30 December 2025 resulted in severe lacerations for Chris, who was promptly rushed to hospital.

Chris explained: "I was treated on board the support boat and then taken by the LA fire department to shore and transferred to hospital. Swim abandoned. Stitches and glue."

His family were stunned when they received a call from coach Tim Denyer, who relayed the news while assuring them that Chris was alright.

Despite the harrowing experience, Chris remained resolute in his passion for open water swimming, planning to "block out" the incident.

"The odds of it happening are very small. I think one in 11 million. So I wouldn't want to put anybody off swimming in the sea," he stated. He mentioned that people often ask him about it "because they do have a natural fear of deep water and what's in it".